trad early 19th century
Eric Winter 1976
The words were popular to inscribe in pottery and are commonly found throughout Hampshire. Winter says he found the full text in Colm à Lochlainn’s Irish Street Ballads.
Come all jolly fellows who delight in being mellow Attend unto me I beseech you For a pint when it’s quiet, come boys let us try it For thinking will drive a man crazy Chorus I have lawns, I have bowers, I have fields, I have flowers And the lark is my daily alarmer So jolly boys now, here’s God speed the plough Long life and success to the farmer Come sit at my table, all those who are able And I’ll hear not one word of complaining For the tinkling of glasses all music surpasses And I long to see bottles a-draining For here I am king, I can laugh, drink and sing And let no man approach as a stranger Just show me the ass who refuses a glass And I’ll treat him to hay in a manger Let the wealthy and great roll in splendour and state, I envy them not, I declare it For I eat my own ham, my own chickens and lamb And I shear my own fleece and I wear it Were it not for my seeding you’d have but poor feeding I’m sure you would all starve without me But I am content when I paid my rent And I’m happy when friends are about me.